Hontiveros to gov't: Stop making excuses for China, stand up against war threat
*Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros on China's threat of war over the West Philippine Sea

Chinese President Xi Jingping's threat of war against the Philippines over the West Philippine Sea must be met with the strongest diplomatic protest from the Philippine government. The threat is an act of aggression; it is bullying. It was also barefacedly undiplomatic. The fact that the threat was personally expressed to the Philippine president makes it more repugnant.

The Duterte government cannot afford to quaver in the face of the Chinese government's belligerent behaviour. Instead of acting like China's spokesperson, to the point of excusing its unacceptable conduct, I challenge the Duterte government to go beyond the glitter of the billions of dollars of Chinese loans and call China out on this threat. The Duterte government has the responsibility to defend the country's national sovereignty and territorial integrity. It must not default from this duty.